Iran’s Leader Appoints New Armed Forces Chief of Staff

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Tuesday appointed Major General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri as the new Iran’s Armed Forces' Chief of Staff.

In a decree on Tuesday, Ayatollah Khamenei who is also the Commander-in-Chief of Iran's Armed Forces pointed to Baqheri’s valuable experience during the Iraqi-imposed war on Iran and in the subsequent posts.

Bagheri replaces Major General Gholamhossein Firouzabadi who has held the position since 2002.

In the letter of appointment, Leader of the Islamic Revolution has urged Maj. Gen. Bagheri to improve defensive and security capabilities and preparedness of Armed Forces as well as popular Basij (mobilized voluntary forces) to ensure “timely and effective response at any level and to any threat posed against the Establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran with Revolutionary action.”

Baqeri formerly served as the deputy chief of staff of Armed Forces for intelligence and also the head of the Armed Forces General Staff for joint affairs.

Ayatollah Khamenei also appointed General Firouzabadi as his senior military advisor and expressed appreciation to the genuine efforts he made during his term in office.